Origins of Existence: How Life Emerged in the Universe [Hardcover]

Fred Adams (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0743212622 | ISBN-13: 978-0743212625 | Publication Date: October 15, 2002 | Edition: 1St Edition

A brilliant physicist has discovered the true origins of existence and now presents his answer and full explanation - that life began inside our planet, not on its surface. In his groundbreaking first book, FIVE AGES OF THE UNIVERSE, Fred Adams established the five eras of the universe from birth to demise. Now, he gives us a stunning new perspective on how the laws of physics created our non-random universe and life itself. This handful of laws resulted in the big bang, which led to stars, galaxies and then to solar systems with planets such as Earth. That process was absolutely necessary for all the tiny chemical structures and vast landscapes required for life to emerge. One of Adams's amazing claims is that organisms did not evolve in a primodial soup in a pond on the Earth's surface, but rather one of many such structures in the vast cosmic landscape. In seven chronological chapters, Adams takes the reader from the general subjects of physics and the universe to the specific origins of life on earth - showing clearly how energy flowed, exploded and was harnessed in replicating organisms. He reveals how the evolution of the universe followed a clear path toward the emergence of life. His insight provides an answer to humankind's deepest anxiety - we are almost certainly not alone in the universe - and throws a whole new light on our identity and beliefs. Life wasn't a lucky break, but the result of physics.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In his second book, University of Michigan physics professor Adams tells the earth's history, beginning with the emergence of our planetary biosphere from the primordial stew. While he believes that the guiding hand of physics shapes galaxies, stars and planets, and also brought about the emergence of life on earth, Adams contends that chaos and chance play a role in the cosmic ballet (he theorizes that the earth's moon is the byproduct of a cataclysmic accident). Adams tackled the complete biography of the cosmos in The Five Ages of the Universe (with Greg Laughlin) and continues here, focusing on the idea that life didn't evolve in a pond as the Victorian evolutionists first believed, but instead took root in the fiery furnaces beneath the earth's crust, the true Garden of Eden for heat-loving microbes. Where else on an evolving planet constantly buffeted by galactic debris could nascent life organize itself in relative peace and quiet? Adams sets up his narrative on the epochal scale before delivering, in one of the last chapters, on what his subtitle promises. There he discusses extraterrestrial life and parallel universes-those ruled by different physical laws. In the end, the author presents an engaging grand tour of galactic space-time.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Lawrence Krauss Case Western Reserve University, author of The Physics of Star Trek and Atom Was life inevitable in our universe? We are still a long way from having a definitive answer, but by framing the origin of life in an underlying physical context, this enjoyable book will raise awareness about this fascinating question. -- Review

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Free Press; 1St Edition edition (October 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743212622
• ISBN-13: 978-0743212625
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,404,494 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Proper degree of complexity and multiverse are the answer., February 18, 2003

By 

Wojciech Langer (Toronto, Ontario) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Origins of Existence: How Life Emerged in the Universe (Hardcover)

I welcome this new book by professor Adams. While he draws from his previously published "The Five Ages of the Universe", cosmology material is upgraded, and at the same time, book contains refreshing chapter about origins of life (RNA, mutations, transfer from physics to biology, metabolism/replication, etc.) Are we alone in our region of observable Universe? - the author, who expands on Drake's Equation and adds speculations about digital and analog life forms, nicely analyzes this question.

Density of information compares to heavy core of a massive star. Text is packed with knowledge and requires reader to concentrate on every sentence.
Repetitions are present, but I found them helpful in memorizing what I have digested.

I appreciated a very innovative logarithmic energy scale developed to compare terrestrial events and used throughout the whole book, as well as other numerical comparisons and tables.
Generally author avoids mathematical equations. Exception can be found on page 194 (bottom) but formula is not explained.
I would consider this expression as Friedmann's Equation for Universe evolution.
Illustrations could be less artistic and more "scientific", but this is subject of individual taste.
"Origins of Existence" are in full agreement with currently published WMAP satellite findings (confirmations); therefore it is a valuable position for every cosmology enthusiast.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Grand Synthesis, January 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Origins of Existence: How Life Emerged in the Universe (Hardcover)

I teach introductory astronomy to liberal arts majors, and I
have been strongly recommending this book to students seeking a better
understanding of cosmology, planet formation, the prospects
for life elsewhere, and all the viscerally exciting topics that
I touch but do not elaborate on in class.

Indeed, Origins of Existence is a book of astounding scope. It
seeks (and succeeds) to explain on every level how things came
to be, tracing the arc of development from quantum fluctuations
in the Big Bang through the emergence of life and intelligence.
Adams proceeds with accuracy, clarity, and occasional dry humor.
Unlike many popular science books written by Big Picture
Theorists, this text is correct down to the carefully researched
detail. Adams is never out of his depth, and is equally at home
with String Theory or Evolutionary Biology. I have not seen
this scope of subject mastery in any other comparable book.

Origins of Existence is accessible to anyone with interest, but
Adams' respect for the subject matter steers him from easily
digestible generalizations, necessarily keeping the book from
being an `easy' read. Having finished it, however, I found that
the reward of a deeper grasp of this material is absolutely worth
the effort. Five stars without hesitation!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another brilliant book by Fred Adams, January 30, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Origins of Existence: How Life Emerged in the Universe (Hardcover)

Timely and fascinating, Adams' second book examines emergence theory...sort of. Emergence theory is usually the realm of biologists--Adams is an astrophysicist. He explores the roles played by astronomical structures and physical laws in the origin of life. "Origins of Existence" is energetic and thoughtful. Its detailed and thorough explanations engage the reader: catalyzing questions, rather than offering simple answers. Final chapter is especially challenging and wonderful. I loved enough to read it twice.